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A Matter of Heart by daw the minstrel	27 Review(s)
pipinheart	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/2/2005
Legolas is having trouble ajusting ofter killing the elf... but is getting better it seems... Author Reply: Now this story is pretty recent. I had to cram it in in the space between "See the Stars" and "Prodigal Sons." I had left myself only a few weeks there, but I needed to get Ithilden engaged and get Legolas on the road to recovery.

perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/12/2004
Wow! Another story! I’ll never catch up with you I fear! I started reading your stories chronologically (I am about to start “Legolas’ begetting day). I supposed it didn’t make much sense, since you have written them in what might seem a “random” order, but then, I wanted to have a perception of Legolas growing up, and catching the tone of the family relationships… then I jumped up to “To See the Stars” which I’ve been dutifully reading these days - I am blessed with uncommon amounts of spare time- and I was happily surprised by a flashback account of a part I had missed when I read “ When shadow hits home” (Eilian’s remembrance of their mother’s death..) So it has proven how useless and pointless my chronological approach is!!! ;-) I can tell you that I’ve enjoyed reading “Seeing the stars” too, though I can understand your feelings about it... it seems your “voice” has grown more used to the characters, and they seem to be more comfortable around now, but then…I’d surrender my iPod just to be able to produce something even half as good as that! So back to this story, I really like the subject, not that I like to see poor Legolas suffering his post trauma recovery, poor thing, but Ithilden’s story is going to be funny, I suspect. By the looks of it, it is about time this serious responsible elf gets a life of his! I wonder whether he knows how to, though!! Mmm… and young ladies and blushing youngsters on the other side…this promises to be an interesting study on “how-to-embarrass-yourself-and–survive-the-event?” Hope the dinner’s not too catastrophic…. Just go on!!!! Please, please, please… ;-) Author Reply: Thank you, perelleth. I was just getting ready to post chapter 2. :-) I do feel more comfortable with my characters now, especially Ithilden. Eilian was easy from the start for some reason. I have to get Ithilden betrothed here because that's the state he'll be in for the next story chronologically, so he has to be somewhat less inept than he has been. But he's not as smooth with the maidens as Eilian is, I'm afraid. I hope Legolas has a chance to approach Miriwen a little bit in this story, but he's awfully upset, poor baby. I confess to being very fond of "Legolas's Begetting Day." I hope you like it.

emjo	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/10/2004
AAAAHHHH! Shoot Daw, I knew I should have read through my review before I sent it, but I was in a hurry. Will you ever forgive me for spelling your OC's names wrong? Sorry! But again great chapter. Author Reply: LOL. I think I'll be able to forgive you. Ithilden's name is particularly tricky because your fingers do just want to go Ithilien. Although by this time, my finger misspell in the opposite direction.

Duchess	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/10/2004
LOL Legolas is just too cute, getting sidetracked by maidens like that. still chuckling I just wish Miriwen hadn't turned out like she did in that later story. shaking my head Well, hopefully Legolas will have better luck with the mystery maiden... eventually. giggle This was another very nice look into the lives of the characters you've created and you are weaving the whole thing so effortlessly it seems that I'm quite jealous. Thank you for sharing! :) Author Reply: I'm not sure Legolas would appreciate being called "cute," so I just won't tell him you said that, Duchess! I always liked Miriwen, but she did dump Legolas in a very cruel way, I'm sorry to say. Her only excuse is that she was young and inexperienced too. Thank you for your very kind words, Duchess.

White Wolf	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/10/2004
Forgive the delay in reviewing. It is getting to be the busy time of year. I really felt for Legolas, trying to use that sword with the memory of the death he had been forced to cause. And, of course, his family is hovering, which I know he hates, even though he knows it's out of love and concern. I'm glad that the Terrible Trio are back together again. I also like the progress the romance between Ithilden and Alfirin has made. Author Reply: I know what you mean about the time of the year. I haven't finished my shopping and we still need to get a tree. The sad about Legolas is that he wants his family to comfort him but doesn't want them to hover, so he puts himself in a double bind and can't get what he needs. There'll be more of Ithilden and Alfirin in the next chapter. :-)

emjo	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/10/2004
Yay, I am so excited about this new story. I loved "See the Stars" but back then I was also to shy to review. I never really have much to say to you but good work. Poor Legolas so but talking to the healers is a little like therapy right so that might help. But I do hope that he will eventually will talk to Thanduil about it. I love seeing Alfrin and Ithilien. And then there is the troublesome trio I love them and poor Turgon won't be around much longer so I guess we better enjoy him in this story! Author Reply: Another reviewer also talked about being too shy to review, which I admitted I was too when I first started reading. I thought I had to have deep thoughts about the story! Now as a writer, I am just glad to know that people are enjoying it. Legolas probably does need to stop bottling things up inside. Poor baby. And Turgon's doom is almost upon him, as Tolkien might say. It makes me very sad. I'm glad I can resurrect him for these stories set earlier. And I like to think he's in the Halls of Waiting for only a short time before he goes to Valinor and Legolas meets him there again. More about Alfirin and Ithilden coming right up!

Firnsarnien	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/10/2004
Hmmmm, I thought I reviewed this chappy, but I guess not. Well, I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am to get another story from you! :) And even better, it's got TURGON in it! :) :) :) YAY! :) Ooooh, and the time period you chose to write this story in, couldn't have been more great! Well, actually, yeah, I can think of an even better time period. I'm sure you know which time I'm talking 'bout. ;) But anyway, this time period is just great too. Lots of interesting things can happen, especially when it comes to Legolas. I just loved the way Annael is so quietly supportive of Legolas. He never pries nor tries to get Leggy to tell him things he's not ready or willing to tell him. Annael is the perfect example of friendship. Turgon on the other hand, what a handful! No pun intended! LOL I think that Elf keeps Leggy and Annael on their "moral" toes! He's always teetering on the edge and Leggy always has to wrestle with right and wrong because of it. And even when he chooses the wrong, it's always for a good reason. Perhaps that is one reason I find Turgon so endearing. :) I seriously thought for an instant, Leggy was going to freeze and not be able to handle that sword in front of his peers. Beads of perspiration popped up all over my face as I watched that poor traumatized Elfling battle to keep at it and not run off in terror. I was gladd to see Leggy take control of his fears and conquer them. At least in that instance. I also think the way Leggy and Tonduil handle the budding romance between Ithilden and Alfirin is so cute. I can just see them rolling their eyes and wondering why all the subtle gameplay. LOL Ooooh, not good. Leggy scrubbing his hands because of the blood that once stained it...not a good thing. He needs some serious talking to and I'm a bit sorry, no, QUITE a bit sorry to see Eilian is nowhere in sight. sniff I miss him already! Miriwen! LOLOLOL Is this one of the same Elleth Leggy was throwing mud at when he was younger, in When Shadow Touches Home? Hmmmm, definitely going to have to go check on that. I'm pretty sure it is. Yup, it was. I went and checked and it was! LOL I can't believe Legolas is all flustered just because she is talking to him. It seems only yesterday he was flinging mud at her and "guarding" her from orcs! LOL He grew up so fast! Of course, we all know the beauty of fanfic, we can always make him little again in the blink of an eye. Er, maybe I should rephrase that, we can make him little again with the push of the Post button! LOL ;) Wonderful story as usual. I can't wait for more from you. I'm sure it's going to be grand! :) Hurry! Author Reply: I was a little worried that this first chapter is too angsty, Firnsarnien, so it's probably right up your alley! LOL. I have to admit to being fond of Turgon too. He's not mean or evil. He's just so undisciplined and without guidance. It's a credit to him, really, that he chooses Annael and Legolas as his friends rather than "bad" boys. Legolas worries about his courage, but he's facing an inner terror here and doing it well. That can't be easy. He just needs to realize that. It's actually funny that Legolas and Tonduil are sarcastic about the "subtle gameplaying" between Ithilden and Alfirin, but then Legolas freezes up when confronted by Miriwen. So who's he to talk??? And yes, this is not only the same maiden he threw mud at, but also the same one he kisses at Ithilden's wedding in "Joinings." :-)

Ms. Whatsit	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/9/2004
Hello, daw! I've been MIA in reviewing for quite some time now, but now I'm back and will be catching up! I really liked See the Stars--I know it's your first LotR story, so you're probably critical of it, but I really liked Flirty!Thranduil and Spykiller!Legolas. So I'm glad you're doing a follow-up to that. For a human to kill another is awfully traumatic, and for Elves it must be a thousand times worse. Poor Legolas--and no matter what Thranduil and Ithilden do, it just ends up making things worse. (Where's Eilian? He might be helpful here...) I liked Legolas getting mischievous and needling Ithilden about Alfirin. That romance is amusing to watch. One thing I like about the childhood stories is that it brings back old characters that have died--like Galelas and Turgon, both of whom are so much fun to hate. You must get whiplash sometimes, though, since I would imagine writing out of order and keeping the chronology straight is confusing. Author Reply: Hey, nice to see you, Ms. Whatsit! I was just thinking about you the other day when ff.net changed the way they did review histories and I went to look at older reviews I'd written. Are you writing too? I went back and reread S the S and actually feel a little better about it. I think I need to trot Flirty!Thranduil out again some time. I don't show him around females much, but I'll bet he's charming when he wants to be. He won't be making any more "mistakes" though! That's too far out of canon for me. Eilian is away on patrol and likely to stay there. I know Legolas needs him, but Ithilden needs to get on with his romance in peace. It is ironic that the more Ithilden and Thranduil keep an eye on Legolas, the worse he feels. Legolas is older and a bit bolder now, as he teases Ithilden, who is not yet his commanding officer. I like jumping back and forth in time, but I do sometimes wish I hadn't boxed myself in with later stories.

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/9/2004
Wow, somebody really needs Post-Critical Incident Counseling. Something makes me think Legolas isn't going to get through this unless he stops bottling everything up. You know what my favorite thing about this chapter was? The students having to put the swords away on the sword rack and carry it back into the training shed. I love little everyday details like that. Nope, the sword fairies don't just swoop in and spirit them away. I also loved the passage where Legolas sees Ithilden watching him. The description of the tall figure detaching himself from the tree was great. I can't wait to see if Ithilden makes it through dinner without spilling soup all over Alfirin. Author Reply: That would be PCIC or something? LOL. Yes, indeed. That's what he needs. And he needs time to just let his body and mind heal a little. Poor baby. You suprised me by picking that detail but I'm pleased. I like details like that too. And surely Ithilden has gotten hold of himself a little by now! He's had years, after all.

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/9/2004
Oh, God - no, I don't have it!! It's supposed to be out on Saturday... Lol. Sorry if I gave that impression. If only... ;-) Author Reply: Even Saturday is days earlier than we get it. That is so not fair! I have mine preordered and expect to spend a lot of time on it too. If you listen to all the commentaries and things, it takes forever. :-)

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